This is an excerpt from “Witness,” an article from the January 2013 issue of Faith & Fellowship magazine (Read full article HERE).

On December 5, 2012, I traveled with Regional Pastor Warren Geraghty and Pastor Kevin Foss as they delivered supplies from Peace Christian Church in Bohemia, New York to the city of Breezy Point. Following a street buried in sand, we walked by a seemingly endless parade of homes that had been twisted loose from their foundations. The neighborhood felt quiet and empty. When we finally reached the ocean, the scene was unimaginable: homes torn in two, the beach thick with debris, and a cool wind blowing as a steady reminder that winter was on its way.

As I traveled the Northeast, I heard story after story of God’s grace and mercy. I witnessed the Church and community coming together. I heard and saw the Gospel proclaimed in word and deed, the body of Christ in action.

I can’t explain this storm, the death and destruction it has brought, but I can tell you that it has opened doors that were closed. It has softened hearts that were hard. As Pastor Kevin said, “It has given the Church a platform to be the hands, feet, and ears of Christ.”

The cleanup is far from over. Please be in prayer for our fellow congregations as they represent Christ to their communities, as they witness in word and deed, in the wake of this storm.